Carpet stretcher



March 27, 1934. R PETERSON 1,952,218

CARPET STRETCHER Filed July 26. 1935 oogoo'ooooo 00000000000900000 8 vovovovoooooooovo WITNESSES in w f N m X 5 I FAN/v); s g a ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1934 CARPET STRETCHER Roy Dwight Peterson, Milwaukee, Wis.,'

assignor to Peterson-Loefller Company, Milwaukee, Wis.,

a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 26, 1933, Serial No. 682,258

5 Claims.

The invention relates to carpet stretchers for use in laying carpets, and has for an object to provide a simple but effective device by which a carpet can be stretched on a floor preparatory to attachment, without danger of marring the floor.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a carpet stretcher embodying the invention, as it appears in use;

Fig. 2 is an elevation. of the carpet-gripping end of the device after stretching;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a carpet gripper forming a part of the device;

Fig. 4 is a detail side view, partly in section, of the carpet gripper, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of stretcher abutment for use in corridors.

In the drawing, 10 designates a building floor on which a carpet 11 is to be stretched and secured. The floor extends to opposite room walls 12, here shown to be provided with base boards 13.

An extensible elongated compression member or strut is formed by a pair of parallel bars or rails 14 and 15 placed one above the other for relative sliding movement and having guide loops 16 and 17 secured respectively thereto to retain the bars together. The upper bar 15 is provided in its upper edge with a series of inclined notches or pockets 18 to receive a cross pin 19 secured to a pair of side links 20 (one being shown) pivotally connected to the stringer 14 by a cross bolt 21, the parts 19, 20 and 21 forming a clevis. When the bars I l and 15 are pulled longitudinally apart, the cross pin 19 swings to a position above the upper bar 15 to permit relative longitudinal adjustment of the bars. When the cross pin 19 is in one of the notches 18 the links 29 assume the inclined position seen in Fig. l to resist relative inward movement of the bars. The lower bar 14 is provided with a padded end block 22 adapted to bear against a suitable stationary abutment, such as one of the base boards 13. The free end of the bar 15 is formed with a V rounded notch or socket 23, and is reinforced by a clamping bolt 24. The bars 14 and 15 are conveniently formed of wood.

A carpet gripper 25 has a toggle lever or arm 26 secured thereto by a hinge 27, the lever having a rounded end adapted to pivotally fit in the bar socket 23. A rectangular metal plate 28 is secured by screws 29 to the lower face of the gripper and has mounted therein rows of inclined prongs 30 adapted to engage the carpet.

' The prongs are here shown to be pointed pins which are screw-threaded into the plate 28. A heel plate 31 is secured to the rear portion of the gripper by screws 32 passing through spacers 33. When the gripper rests on the carpet it is preferably slightly inclined as seen in Fig. 2, the prongs 30 being of increasing length from the front to the rear rows so as to equalize their penetration into the carpet. The pivotal axis of the hinge 27 is between the prongs 30 and the heel 31.

When a carpet is to be stretched, it is laid on the floor and attached at one edge to the floor, usually near one of the base boards 13. The strut l4, 15 is adjusted to a suitable length and the padded end 22 thereof is abutted against this base board. The gripper 25 has its toggle arm 26 pivotally fitted into the strut socket 23 and has its prongs 30 embedded in the free edge portion of the carpet, which is spaced from the edge of the nearest base board. The socketed end of the strut is then depressed from the Fig. 1 position, as by foot pressure, causing the carpet gripper to advance to the Fig. 2 position and stretching the carpet to the base board, after which the carpet is secured in place. The strut in its downward movement forms a toggle member and pivots on the base board against which it abuts. The toggle joint is then released by lifting the socketed end of the strut, and the strut is moved to a new position. During each stretching operation, the prongs and heels of the gripper remain in engagement with the carpet so that the angle of the prongs with respect to the carpet does not change. Part of the down-. ward pressure on the gripper is taken by the heel, so as to avoid excessive downward pressure on the prongs. When the gripper is moved to a new position, it can be handled separately from the much heavier and longer strut, so as to facilitate the placement of the gripper on the 95 carpet.

When a carpet is to be stretched in a corridor, the reaction abutment for the strut may usually be provided by a beam 34 extending across the corridor into facing doorways 35, as seen in Fig. 5, 0 thus avoiding the necessity for an excessively long strut.

The device can be used to stretch carpets on floors of various types, including those of wood and concrete. No mutilation of the floor is necessary, as the stretcher is not anchored on the floor.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A carpet stretcher comprising a strut having a socket at one end, a carpet gripper, and a pivotally secured arm on said gripper insertible endwise in said socket and pivotally bearing therein to form a toggle connection.

2. A carpet stretcher comprising a strut, a carpet gripper having carpet-engaging prongs and a downwardly projecting carpet-engaging heel, and an arm pivotally connected to said gripper between said prongs and said heel and having a toggle connection with said strut, the line of action of said arm resolving downward pressure on the prongs and heel during the stretching operation.

3. A carpet stretcher comprising an extensible strut formed of a pair of overlapping substantially parallel bars mounted for relative longitudinal movement, guide means for said bars, one of said bars having a series of recesses therein, a latch member swingably mounted on the other bar and adapted to enter any one of said recesses, and a carpet gripper having a movable connection with one of said bars.

4. A carpet stretcher comprising a carpet gripper having front and rear bearing portions one of which is toothed and the other of which is formed by a downwardly projecting abutment, and an impelling arm pivotally connected to said gripper between said portions.

5. A carpet stretcher comprising a strut memher, a carpet gripper, and a pivotally secured arm member on said gripper, one of said members having a socket at one end and the other being insertible endwise into said socket and pivotally bearing therein to form a toggle connection.

- ROY DWIGHT PETERSON.

ill 15 

